Hydraulic actuator and locking mechanism



Sept. 6, 1966 J, 335 ER I 3,270,621

HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR AND LOCKING MECHANISM Original Filed April 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiG.l

I NVENTOR. ERNST J. DBRIDDER BY w )g/ hJZZW HIS ATTORNEYS E. J. DE RIDDER HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR AND LOCKING MECHANISM Original Filed April 12, 1963 Sept. 6, 1966- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ERNST J. DBRIDDER BY W HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,270,621 HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR AND LOCKING MECHANISM Ernst J. De Ridder, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 272,687, Apr. 12, 1963. This application Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 363,744 16 Claims. (Cl. 9144) This application is a continuation application of the copending application Serial Number 272,687, filed April 12, 1963, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved fluid operated mechanism as well as to an improved method for operating such mechanism or the like.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention comprises a first piston and cylinder arrangement and a second piston and cylinder arrangement, the second piston being adapted to lock the first piston in one of its operating positions whereby the first piston is not permitted to move until the second piston has moved from its locking position and whereby the first piston must be first returned to its lockable position before the second piston is moved to its locking position.

Such fluid operating mechanism has a plurality of uses, one such use being to control rotary movement of a rotatably mounted shaft or axle which, in turn, is utilized to control the opening and closing of bottom door means for a gondola-type railroad coal car or the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fluid operated mechanism having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for operating such a mechanism or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the fluid operated mechanism of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the fluid operated mechanism in one of its operating positions.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the fluid operated mechanism in another of its operating positions.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the fluid operated mechanism in still another operating position thereof.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for controlling rotary movement of a rotatably mounted shaft to open and close doors of a railroad car or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide fluid operated means for controlling any other device or devices.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the Wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved fluid operated mechanism of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral and comprises a first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 and a second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 interconnected together in a manner hereinafter described.

The first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 comprises a completely closed housing or cylinder 13 defining a ice chamber 14 therein and receiving a piston 15 for reciprocating movement in the chamber 14 in a manner hereinafter described, the piston 15 having a piston rod 16 interconnected thereto and projecting out of the cylinder 13 through a bore 17 formed in one of the end Walls thereof.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the free end 18 of the piston 16 is pivotally connected to one end 19 of a link 20 by a pivot pin 21, the other end 22 of the link 20 being pivotally interconnected to an end 23 of a lever 24 by a pivot pin 25.

The other end 26 of the lever 24 is fixedly secured to a control shaft or axle 27 mounted in suitable bearing (not shown) for rotary movement about the axis 28.

While the axle 27 can be utilized for any suitable pur pose, one such use thereof is to interconnect the axle 27 to suitable linkage means of door actuating means for a railroad car or the like whereby rotary movement of the axle 27 in a clockwise direction opens the doors and counterclockwise movement of the axle 27 closes the doors.

Therefore, when the lever 24 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the railroad car doors are disposed in their closed position and when the lever 24' is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, the railroad car doors are fully opened.

The second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 comprises a closed housing or cylinder 29 defining a chamber 30 therein and receiving a piston 31 for reciprocal movement in the chamber 30 for a purpose hereinafter de scribed, the piston 31 carrying a piston rod 32 which projects out of the cylinder 29 through a bore 33 in one of the ends of the cylinder 29 as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

A port 34 is formed in one end of the cylinder 29 of the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 to interconnect the exterior of the cylinder 29 with the chamber 30 thereof.

Similarly, another port 35 is formed in the other end of the cylinder 29 to interconnect the exterior thereof with the chamber 30, the port 35 of the cylinder 29 being interconnected to a port 36 formed in the cylinder 13 of the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 intermediate the ends thereof by a passage defining means or conduit 37.

A port 38 is formed in the cylinder 29 intermediate the ends thereof and is interconnected to a port 39 formed at the left hand end of the cylinder 13 by a passage defining means or conduit 40.

A port 41 is formed in the right hand end of the cylinder 13 of the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 and interconnects the exterior of the cylinder 13 with the chamber 14 thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

While any suitable valving mechanism can be utilized to selectively interconnect a source of fluid pressure to the port 34 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 12 while simultaneously interconnecting the port 41 of the cylinder 13 to a reservoir or, conversely, to interconnect the fluid pressure source to the port 41 of the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 while simultaneously interconnecting a reservoir to the port 34 of the cylinder 29, a pair of valve members 42 of this invention are illustrated in the drawings and utilized for such purpose.

Each valve member 42 comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 43 defining a chamber 44 therein.

Each housing 43 of each valve 42 is interrupted by four radially disposed ports 45, 46, 47 and 48 respectively disposed at ninety degrees relative to each other and interconnecting the exterior of the housing 43 with the chamber 44 thereof.

The port of the left hand valve 42 is adapted to be interconnected to a fluid pressure source by a conduit 49 or the like, the fluid pressure source being any suitable source, such as the fluid pressure source for the brake system of the railroad car or the like.

The port 45 of the right hand valve 42 is also interconnected to the fluid pressure source by a branch conduit 50 interconnected to the conduit 49 as illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

The port 48 of the left hand valve 42 is interconnected to the port 34 of the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 by a conduit 51, the port 48 of the right hand valve 42 also being interconnected to the port 34 of the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 by a branch conduit 52 interconnected to the conduit 51 as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The port 46 of the right hand valve 42 is interconnected to the port 41 of the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 by a conduit 53 while the port 46 of the left hand valve 42 is also interconnected to the port 41 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 by a branch conduit 54 being interconnected to the conduit 53 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The ports 47 of each valve 42 are interconnected to the reservoir of the fluid pressure source by conduits 55.

Each valve 42 includes a rotary valve member 56 disposed in the chamber 44 thereof and normally disposed in a neutral position illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the ports 45 and 47 of the respective valve 42 are closed from the chamber 44 by the valve member 56. However, the valve member 56 of either valve member 42 can be moved in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIGURE 2 whereby the ports 45 and 48 are interconnected together at the same time that the ports 46 and 47 are interconnected together to effect opening of the railroad car doors in a manner hereinafter set forth.

Conversely, when the valve member 56 of either valve 42 is moved in a counterclockwise direction from its neutral position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, the ports 45 and 46 are connected together while the ports 47 and 48 are connected together to effect closing of the doors of the railroad car or the like in the manner hereinafter set forth.

Therefore, it can be seen that the fluid operated mechanism of this invention can be operated by either the right hand valve 42 or the left hand valve 42 whereby the valves 42 can be located at opposite ends of the railroad car to effect operation of the mechanism 10 regardless of the location of the mechanism 10 relative to the valves 42.

While only two such valves 42 are illustrated for each mechanism 10, it is to be understood that one or more valves 42 can be utilized in the above manner as desired.

The second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 is adapted to lock the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 in its door closed position and will maintain the control axle 27 in its door closed position until the piston 31 of the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 has been moved to effect unlocking of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 whereby the piston of the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 can be thereafter moved to rotate the shaft 27 to its door opening position as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Conversely, the mechanism 10 is so constructed and arranged that when the control shaft 27 is disposed in its door open position and it is desired to close the doors, the piston 15 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 is first moved to its door closed position before the piston 31 of the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 is moved to its locking position to lock the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 in its door closed position.

While any suitable means can be utilized for permitting the piston and cylinder arrangement 12 to lock the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 in its door closed position, one such means is illustrated in the drawings and comprises a locking member 57 that is substantially L-shaped and defined by a pair of legs 58 and 59 joined together at substantially right angles to each other at an elbow 60 of the locking member 57.

The elbow of the locking member 57 is fixed to a shaft 61 rotatably carried in a member 62 fixed to the cylinder 13 of the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11 whereby the locking member 57 is adapted to move about the axis 63 of the shaft 61 in a manner hereinafter described.

The leg 59 of the locking member 57 is pivotally interconnected to the free end 64 of the piston rod 32 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 12 by a pivot pin 65, the arm 59 having an extension 66 extending therefrom to provide a handle portion .for moving the locking member 57 about the axis 63 should a pressure failure occur in the fluid system and it is desired to manually move the control shaft 27.

The other arm 58 of the locking member 57 has a hookshaped end 67 defined by an outwardly facing groove or channel 68 which is adapted to receive the pivot shaft 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 when the locking member 57 is disposed in its locking position and the piston 15 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 is disposed in its door closed position.

Therefore, it can be seen that when the fluid operated mechanism 10 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the locking member 57 holds the piston rod 16 from movement whereby the control shaft 27 will not rotate about its axis 28 even though the piston 15 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 would be subjected to a jar or bump such as would occur when the railroad car is being switched in the railroad yard or the like.

While the above-mentioned jarring movement may have a tendency to move the piston .31 of the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12 to effect unlocking movement of the locking member 57, a suitable counterweight 69 is operatively interconnected to the locking member 57, such as by being fixed to the shaft 61 thereof whereby any jarring movement of the piston 31 in a direction to cause the same to tend to unlock the locking member 57 is opposed by like movement of the counterweight 69.

The operation of the fluid operated mechanism 10 will now be described.

Assuming that the mechanism 10 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the control shaft v27 is locked in its door closed position and it is desired to open the doors, one of the valve members 56 of the valves 42 is rotated in a clockwise direction to interconnect pairs of the ports 45, 48 and 46, 47 together.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 2 wherein the left 'hand valve member 56 is disposed in such a position to interconnect the fluid pressure source conduit 49 to the port 34 of the second piston and cylinder arrangement 12.

As fluid under pressure enters the left hand end of chamber 30 of the cylinder 29 at the port 34 thereof, the fluid pushes against the left hand side of the piston 31 to tend to cause the piston 31 to move to the right in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 whereby such movement of the piston 31 causes the locking member 57 to move in a clockwise direction about the axis 63 to move the hook-shaped end 67 of the locking member 57 out of locking engagement with the pivot pin 21 connected to the piston rod 16 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11.

As the piston 31 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 12 moves from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the fluid trapped in the right side of the chamber 30 of the cylinder 29 is exhausted to the reservoir by being forced through the port 35, conduit 37, port 36, chamber 14, port 41, conduit 53, branch conduit 54, port 46 of the left 'hand valve 42 to the return conduit '55 as illustrated by arrows in FIGURE 2.

When the piston 31 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 12 has moved from the position illustrated in FIG- URE 1 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the locking member 57 has been moved completely out of locking engagement with the pivot pin 21 of the pisto rod 16. At this time, the piston 31 has moved beyond the port 38 whereby the pressure fluid being directed to the left hand side of the chamber 30 of the cylinder 29 is now conveyed from the port 34 into the port 38 and by means of the conduit 40 to the port 39 of the cylinder 13. The pressure fluid now directed to the 'left hand end of the cylinder 13 by the port 69 pushes against the left side of the piston 15 and causes the same to move to the right in the manner illust-rtaed in FIGURE 3 to cause the control shaft 27 to rotate in a clockwise direction and, thus, move the doors to their opened position.

Therefore, it can be seen that before the piston '15 of the first piston and cylinder arrangement v11 can be moved by the fluid pressure source, the piston 31 of the piston and cylinder arrangement "12 must be first moved from its locking position to its fully unlocked position before the port 38 in the cylinder 29 is interconnected to the port 34 in the above manner.

When it is desired to move the control shaft 27 from its door open-ed position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to its door locking position as illustrated in FIGURE 1, one of the valve members '56 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction past its neutral position to interconnect the pairs of ports 45, 46 and 47, 48 together.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 4 wherein the valve member 56 of the right hand valve 42 is moved to such a door closing position.

With the valve member 5'6 disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, it can be seen that fluid from the fluid source conduit 49 is adapted to be directed through the valve 42 to the port 41 in the cylinder 13 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 11 whereby the fluid in the right hand end of the cylinder 13 acts against the right side of the piston 15 and moves the same back to the left as illustrated in FIGURE 4. As the piston 15 moves back to the left, the fluid trapped in the left hand end of the cylinder 13 is forced to the reservoir by means of the port 39, conduit 40, port 38, chamber 30, port 34, conduit 5-1, branch conduit 52 and ports '48 and 47 of the right hand valve member 42 as illustrated by arrows in FIGURE 4.

When the piston 15 of the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 has been moved completely back to its left hand position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, whereby the control shaft 27 is disposed in its door closed position, the piston 15 has uncovered the port 3'6 in the cylinder 13 whereby the pressure fluid entering the right hand end of the chamber .30 of the cylinder 13 through the port 41 can be conveyed from the port 41 through the port 36, conduit 37 to the port 35 in cylinder 29 to cause the piston 31 thereof to move from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 back to its left hand position illustrated in FIGURE 1. As the piston 31 moves back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the piston moves the locking member 57 into locking engagement with the pivot pin 21 of the piston rod 16 as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Therefore, it can be seen that when the mechanism is disposed in its door open position, the same is adapted to return the doors to their closed position while at the same time causing the piston and cylinder arrangement '12 to positively lock the first piston and cylinder arrangement 11 in its door closed position.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved fluid operated mechanism as well as an improved method-of operating such a mechanism or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a first piston and cylinder arrangement, said first piston being movable to one position thereof, a second piston and cylinder arrangement, said second piston being movable to one position thereof,

said first piston when moved to a said one position thereof locking said second piston from movement when said second piston is in said one position thereof, and fluid pressure means for moving said pistons, said fluid pressure means first moving said second piston one position thereof before it is adapted to move said first piston to said one position thereof.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid pressure means must first move said first piston from its one position before it is adapted to move said second piston from its one position.

3. In combination, a first piston and cylinder arrangement, said first piston being movable to one position thereof, a second piston and cylinder arrangement, said second piston being movable to one position thereof, and a locking member carried by said first piston and locking said second piston from movement when said first piston and said second piston are in said one position thereof, and fluid pressure means for moving said pistons, said fluid pressure means first moving said second piston to said one position thereof before it is adapted to move said first piston to said one position thereof.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking member is pivotally attached to said first piston.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking member is pivotally attached to said second cylinder.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a counterweight is carried by said locking member to counterbalance jarring movement of said first piston.

7. In combination, a first piston and cylinder arrangement, a second piston and cylinder arrangement, first passage defining means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said first cylinder with one end of said second cylinder, second passage defining means interconnecting one end of said first cylinder with an intermediate portion of said second cylinder, means for imposing fluid pressure at the other end of said first cylinder to cause movement of said first piston in one direction until said first passage means is uncovered to cause movement of said second piston in one direction, and means for imposing fluid pressure at the other end of said second cylinder to cause movement of said second piston in the opposite direction until said second passage means is uncovered to cause movement of said first piston in the opposite direction.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first piston locks said second piston from movement when said first piston is moved to its extreme position in said opposite direction.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first piston pivotally carries a locking member pivotally mounted on said second cylinder.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein a counterweight is carried by said locking member to counterbalance jarring movement of said first piston.

11. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a first piston and cylinder arrangement, said first piston being operatively interconnected to said shaft to rotate said shaft upon movement of said first piston between one and another position thereof, a second piston and cylinder arrangement, said second piston when moved to one position thereof locking said first piston from movement when said first piston is in said one position thereof, and fluid pressure means for moving said pistons, said fluid pressure means first moving said first piston to said one position thereof before it is adapted to move said second piston to said one position thereof.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second piston is connected to a pivotally mounted locking member for locking said first piston.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking member has a handle for manually moving said locking member.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said piston and cylinder arrangements can be selectively controlled by any one of a pair of valves.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said shaft has a lever fixed thereto, and said first piston is connected to said lever by a link pivotally secured to said first piston and pivotally secured to said lever.

16. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a first piston and cylinder arrangement, said first piston being operatively interconnected to said shaft to rotate said shaft upon movement of said first piston, a second piston and cylinder arrangement, said second piston when moved to a certain position thereof locking said first piston from movement when said first piston is in a certain position thereof, said shaft having a lever fixed thereto, said first piston being connected to said lever by a link pivotally secured to said first piston and pivotally secured to said lever, and a pivotally mounted locking member operatively interconnected to said second piston and having a hook-shaped end to lock with the means pivotally securing said link to said first piston.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,964 2/1914 Briggs 91-44 1,189,251 7/1916 Harden 91-44 2,139,185 12/1938 Engel 9144 2,243,626 5/1941 Gregg et al. 91-44 2,366,587 1/ 1945 Armington 9144 3,141,382 7/1964 Oldfield et al. 91-44 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

,FRED E. ENGELTHALER, Examiner.

P. E. MASLOUSKY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A FIRST PISTON AND CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT, SAID FIRST PISTON BEING MOVABLE TO ONE POSITION THEREOF, A SECOND PISTON AND CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT, SAID SECOND PISTON BEING MOVABLE TO ONE POSITION THEREOF, SAID FIRST PISTON WHEN MOVED TO A SAID ONE POSITION THEREOF LOCKING SAID SECOND PISTON FROM MOVEMENT WHEN SAID SECOND PISTON IS IN SAID ONE POSITION THEREOF, AND FLUID PRESSURE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PISTONS, SAID FLUID PRESSURE MEANS FIRST MOVING SAID SECOND PISTON ONE POSITION THEREOF BEFORE IT IS ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID FIRST PISTON TO SAID ONE POSITION THEREOF. 